One of the proudest moments of my life was when my oldest son decided to become a firefighter. He is a volly now in the small town we live in and going to school to get his certs and an associate degree, hoping it will all lead to a career in the fire service. The thing about him is he understands the traditions, he respects those that came before him, and he has a reverence and respect for the Brothers lost in the line of duty. 9/11 is an important day in his life and he doesn't have to remember those that paid the ultimate price that horrific day because he will never forget and neither will I.

Milwaukee firefighters stood in three lines with black bands across their badges and listened somberly this morning to a roll call of their fallen brothers and sisters who died responding to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Seven years have passed since the attacks, but the firefighters in Milwaukee and across the country remain devoted to remembering the bravery and dedication of the 343 who died.

"We bow our heads and our hearts to the effort of the firefighters that day."

The ceremony outside the Milwaukee department headquarters started with a salute, as David Harris, a member of the honor guard, slowly lowered the flag to half-staff. Holton and Bobbie Weber, president of the firefighters union, alternated their way through the list of names.

"We want everybody to remember the names of the firefighters and their families," Holton said. "Sometimes, in a tragedy of this magnitude, the individuals and their families are forgotten."

I never had the honor of working with the men who gave everything that day. But I do have to honor of working with men who worked with the ones we lost, and that means more to me than anything else in this world.

Strength & Honor

Eng 40 35 truck, I finaly made it to the home of the Cavemen the 10th. The service for Brother Michael Otten was one I was honored to attend and will never forget. We had wanted to make it there to pay respects at your house and are glad to have made it. The service at 100th and Riverside park was well done. It's an honor to stand with you all to listen to the names read. We look forward to Honoring our Fallen Brothers with you again next year.

Now in Victoria, BC. I'm from beautiful Jasper Alberta in the heart of the Can. Rockies - will always be an Albertan at heart!

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Originally Posted by jimp417

Eng 40 35 truck, I finaly made it to the home of the Cavemen the 10th. The service for Brother Michael Otten was one I was honored to attend and will never forget. We had wanted to make it there to pay respects at your house and are glad to have made it. The service at 100th and Riverside park was well done. It's an honor to stand with you all to listen to the names read. We look forward to Honoring our Fallen Brothers with you again next year.

I got a little teary-eyed yesterday when I saw Michael's name scroll by on the screen while I was watching the Memorial coverage on CNN.

PROVIDENCE — Lt. Thomas Kenney yesterday recited a reflective poem that he wrote, “The Tolling of Firehouse Bells,” at the local firefighters’ annual memorial ceremony for the 343 firefighters who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Forty-five to 50 people, most of them firefighters in dress uniform, attended the morning observance at the Providence Public Safety Memorial outside the Public Safety Complex.

In another stanza of the poem penned by Kenney, the Fire Department’s unofficial “poet laureate,” he wrote:

Firemen everywhere walked a little taller

Though hearts heavy with pain

This country leaned on the strength of these heroes

To help it stand tall once again

A prominent part of the observance, which was organized by the firefighters labor union, Local 799 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, was the reading aloud of the names of those who sacrificed. The readers were Firefighter Joseph F. Mellor, Local 799 vice president, and Firefighter Philip Fiore, secretary.

Lt. Philip Payne, a Universalist pastor, gave the invocation, and Firefighter Paul A. Doughty, Local 799 president, was the emcee.

Musical accompaniment was provided by Firefighter Alan Sousa of the Rhode Island Professional Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums, who marched in and out with the department honor guard, bagpipes swirling, and played “Amazing Grace” during the ceremony. Firefighter Michael Sullivan sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella.

In addition to a moment of silence for those who died at the World Trade Center in New York City, the attendees observed a moment of silence for active members of the nation’s armed services who are serving around the world.

God Please Bless the Heros (big H) of 911
As someone who went trough 911 I feel that
it is my obligation to advise this board on the following.

There was a forum "firefighter for 911truth"

This a scam being played on our fallen comrads.
The group "firefighters for 911 truth" is connected
to Richard Gage who claims to an architect. He is false
To see how this scam is being played
Please google: JREF-Richard Gage still begging for dollars"

I will not alow these people to discrace the memory of our
fallen comrads, period.

For the record

I am a survivor of the attacks(WTC)
I am a long standing volunteer for the
FDNY Auxiliary Fire Corps formerly with E10
I am a strong proponent for new 911 invedtigation.

But, theres is a criminal network cashing in on 911
and I have been chasing the jerkoffs for a long time.

We honor their memory by not looking the other way
when criminals commit fraud against the victims and
families of 911.

I am an 18 year veteran volunteer for the FDNY Auxiliary
Fire Corps under the NY State Emergency Defense Act 1951
I am also a former NYPD police officer 61pct 17pct
I fought at ground zero on 911 was nearly killed when the Tower 1
collapsed. I find it offensive (1) when anyone chooses to outright scamthe memory of that day to get rich off that memory (2) someone states that
Any dedication to the fallen should be removed because of personal bias.That in itself is a sign of disrespect almost as pulling colors off the memorial wall of 911.

I am sorry that this department still chooses to act in this fasion towards its
unrecognized volunteers who nearly paid with their lives on 911 especially when they open arms for fellow service personell (volunteer and paid) from all over the world yet as for us they request that our dedication be removed.

As far as the subject that was originally posted regarding the scam is concerned all relevant evidence has been forwarded to federal authorities for investigation. Its one thing to remember the fallen its another To PROTECT THEIR HONOR from criminals cashing in on them.